Sat, Dec 5, 2026

Run Elf Run!

Pontiac, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

5K0.25 Miles

Entry is $30 now and rises to $40 after Oct 22, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Run Elf Run!

The race starts at a downtown street corner and wraps up before the annual Holiday Extravaganza Parade rolls through, so the streets are already buzzing when runners finish. The course runs through downtown Pontiac, which keeps things urban and flat underfoot.

Packet pickup the evening before is inside a building on Saginaw Street, sandwiched between a brewery and a burger spot. After the race, that same brewery is open for a beer and pretzel at the finish, with a soft drink option available too.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

164finishers

17:02winner

31:58median

1:01:22cutoff

Top 3: Alex Ralston (17:02) · Malik Jordan (17:24) · Ryan Squanda (18:19)

The Run Elf Run! has been held every year since at least 2024. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles12/5/2026 08:00$30

0.25 Miles12/5/2026 09:00$10

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Run Elf Run!

Will I finish last at the Run Elf Run!?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 31:58, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:01:22, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Run Elf Run! a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (164 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Run Elf Run!?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:02 while the median finisher took 31:58. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.